Blue Jays 4, Twins 0

Chris Toman, The Sports Xchange

The SportsXchange•July 6, 2013

TORONTO -- Mark Buehrle threw seven scoreless innings to help the Toronto Blue Jays snap a three-game losing streak with a 4-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night at Rogers Centre. Jose Bautista had three hits, including a solo homer, and drove in two runs. Jose Reyes added three hits, two RBIs and a stolen base. Buehrle (5-5) lasted seven innings for the first time in four outings and didn't allow a run for the second time in 18 starts this season. The left-hander gave up six hits and struck out five batters. The Twins (36-47) dropped their sixth consecutive game, falling to a season-high 11 games below .500. Minnesota is 1-8 in its last nine games at Rogers Centre and has dropped four straight overall to the Blue Jays (42-44). Twins right-hander Kevin Correia (6-6) took the loss, just his second since May, after allowing four runs and a season-high 10 hits in six innings. Correia struck out three and matched a season high by issuing three walks before turning the ball over to right-hander Ryan Pressly in the seventh. Pressly threw two scoreless innings of relief. The Blue Jays, who outhit the Twins 10-7, improved to 24-20 at home this season. Toronto left-hander Brett Cecil worked a scoreless eighth and right-hander Dustin McGowan retired the side in order in the ninth. The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the third with a solo home run by right fielder Jose Bautista, his 20th homer of the year. It came off Correia and was Bautista's fourth homer in his last eight games. Toronto tacked on three runs in the fourth to take a 4-0 lead. Jose Reyes knocked in Maicer Izturis and J.P. Arencibia with a two-run double to right and Bautista followed with his third hit of the night, an RBI single to center. NOTES: Reyes extended his hitting streak to eight games with a leadoff single in the first inning. Reyes has reached base safely in all but one of the 20 games he has played this season. ... Twins RHP Mike Pelfrey (back) was activated from the disabled list on Friday and will start Saturday against the Blue Jays. Pelfrey, who missed close to three weeks, made one rehab assignment at Class A Cedar Rapids. RHP P.J. Walters was designated for assignment to make room for Pelfrey on the 25-man roster. ... Blue Jays LF Melky Cabrera, who is on the 15-day disabled list with left knee tendinitis, ran on the field before the game and participated in batting practice. Cabrera will likely go on a rehab assignment before being activated from the DL, manager John Gibbons said.